Magic and Sparkle...

Tis' the season to be jolly.......the season to think of others, to over-eat, to succumb to the High Street madness buying a million presents and still wondering, "have I bought enough?"

Tis' also the season to think about that very British of all British institutions, 

the works Christmas party.  

I found it very interesting when I lived in France that the annual Xmas soirée was not very high on the agenda at all.  A reserved meal among colleagues maybe but certainly not to our levels of sparkly dresses and drunken mishaps.  But then my beloved French are much more reserved.  My friends thought it hilarious that we (that mad Brits) start looking for a Christmas party dress in November and that so much effort goes into the quest. It's safe to say that I have probably amassed over 100 suitable dresses over the years, some screaming for the chance to come out the closet but it never stops me wanting another. I probably have more dressy, going out clothes than I have everyday items.  It will come as no surprise that I love dressing up. Looking back, I should have realised the potential problem from an early age.

It's sadly true that as we get older, nights out seem few and far between, well at least those of the sparkly dress kind and I was determined that this year with two do's on my otherwise bare social calender, that sequins had to figure big. 

I probably shouldn't be veering towards sequins at my age but what can I say, this girl just refuses to grow up and conform. So on my quest, I came upon these potential wardrobe additions. 

The two skirts above are from my own shop Wallis.  I say my shop, they were unfortunately part of an exclusive online collection that wasn't available in store BUT I put my staff discount card to good use and quickly ordered them from the net. It frustrates me that some of our stores aren't sent capsule collections or limited editions for a short time just as an experiment to see if we could sell them In store. I really think it's a missed opportunity giving all the best stock to the web and not putting it out there in front of people for them to see, touch and try. The internet is great in terms of variety and bargains for the discerning shopper but it shouldn't be to the detriment of High Street. 

Anyway, rant over, I did buy them and they are beautiful.  Not to be worn with tights though as I soon learned. The sequins are so rough on the hem, they can destroy a pair in ten minutes. Strictly for 

summer leg use only!  

This is a showstopper that I wouldn't resist. It's been a long time since I've bough three  things that didn't originate from a charity shop or have a second-hand history. This beauty is fromNAZZ Collection, a company that I had never heard of before but it came up on a Google search for all things sparkly.  I did want the gold originally but I ordered two sizes not knowing how my curves would fair against the slim fit and I ended up plumping for the red version. It screams Diana Ross and I love it.  Not loving the length though......it needs taking up by about 8 inches.  Evidently a dress for an Amazonian woman which I am not. Nevertheless, it's all mine and deserves it's own showcase with personal lighting. 

Onto another quest. The quest for a sequin maxi. One that I have been unsuccessful in as yet. The one pictured is from Phase Eight and at the princely sum of £120, it shall forever be a dream, not a reality but I shall keep a close eye on it in the sales. 

So by now you are probably thinking hang on a minute, where's the second hand item then? Panic yee not, I have not turned to the dark side.  

While conducting my search for a sparkly little number, I of course always hoped that I could find one from  a charity shop. I have to say, I almost gave up hope when I randomly stopped at one in Weston-super-Mare after visiting my mum a couple of weeks ago. I saw a charity shop on a retail complex that seemed a little out of place so I pulled up and ran in as it was ten minutes before closing. This dress was shining straight at me on a side rail and I grabbed it and ran to the cash desk. I didn't even look at the price.  All I saw was that it was brand new from French Connection and still had the tags on.  I just prayed that the size 12 cube on the hanger was true to form and happily handed over 12 of my best British pounds upon asking the price.  What a success and very unexpected but that's the best kind of experience.  Now being that I am a little "top heavy" in the upper area, this will require a jacket or shrug of some kind, but no matter. It's beautiful quality sequins are so soft and it is beautifully lined, you can tell it is a quality item that will stand the test of time. 

Not that I have a lot of time. A dress like this has a finite lifespan I'm guessing in the wardrobe of a 41 year old!  

I shall just have to search out more parties. Or just dress up for dinner more at home. 

What a nice idea.  

Winter Warmers...

The weather is definitely on the change.  My body instantly reacts when temperatures drop. I have a constant runny nose, my fingers and toes are often a blue hue and I put my husband, dog and bank account through hell with sub-tropical heating inside the house, car and anywhere else I can control.

I am definitely not a cold weather girl.  I am half Arabic after all. I am of the desert. Of lands of sun and sand. I am definitely not destined to spend half a year, every year, wrapped up like the Michelin man with two pairs of gloves and socks at a time. Until such time however as that lottery win graces my palm with much silver, I must learn to somehow cover up (in style) and fight the good fight.

So, around the latter half of the year, I usually do some kind of coat edit. I look at what I have, what can be given to charity shops, what needs dry cleaning and then assess the gaps for potential new purchases.  This year I have been very lucky as I found two lovely second-hand coats down the road in my local village charity shops.

This is the first one, originally from Windsmoor,  which is going to be my smart going out coat (I just need to go out more!),  it's too lovely to be used on a day to day basis.  It was £10 which I didn't mind paying as it was in excellent condition and I could tell from the label that it was a true vintage piece. The label is a very old style when Windsmoor was the label of choice for people like my nan.  It has a velvet edge around the collar and cuffs with a slightly Russian edge to it.

The label on this one is Savoir and was only £6. Brand new with original tags (quoting a silly price of £75). I almost feel like I'm ripping off the charity shop when I buy things like this. 

It's as if I'm getting too much of a bargain and I need to say "put your damn prices up..........please!!!!!!"  The photo doesn't show the true colour, it's more terracotta than red and is a gorgeous thick ribbed wool material. 

  P.s...... Apologies for the uninspiring pictures above and below, I had two choices. Hang them in the hall and take the pic without thinking, or wait for daylight, a willing husband and a good photo opportunity.  The latter would be at least a week away so I went with option 1. 

This beautiful cape was a birthday present from my friend Jo.  We spent a great day together back at the start of the summer in Wells and she bought this very generous gift for me and kept it for my birthday in July. The only good thing about winter is that I have been waiting to wear this beauty. Our summer this year has prevented it from coming out sooner.  You simply slide your arms through the slits on the front that look like pockets et voila......   

Little Red Riding Hood lives.  I am thinking skinny jeans, long leather gloves and some lovely winter boots. It was around £40 from The Wells Trading Post which I have written about previously.  It's a truly amazing place and I am very lucky to have such a good friend.  What a gift. 

So there you have it. Despite the big freeze, I am hoping that I will look smart at least, as I wipe away the icicles hanging off my nose. 

Sniff. 

Golden Girl...

Back at the start of the summer, I was fatefully browsing Etsy one evening when I stumbled upon this gorgeous dress and with one look and a huge smile, I was hooked. 

A few clicks and a week of anxious waiting later and she was mine. Delivered straight from the US of A and into my ever so grateful clutches.  It instantly takes me back to 1970's disco and images of the A-listers gracing the threshold of Studio 54 in New York. Also of Bond Girls and the original Supermodels. Cindy Crawford et al would have looked beautiful in this piece.  Shoulder pads, wide belt and a super soft satin material.  I just love her.  I bought it from the seller Cool Vintage Finds for around £40 (£10 of which was shipping costs).  That is a lot of money for me to pay for something second-hand which just proves my love for her! She, however, does not yet love my waistline, which is currently too large to accommodate its slim lines.  So for now, she hangs in my dressing room, making me smile every time I catch a glimpse of her poking out from among the other numbers all crammed in (many of which are also waiting for a slimmer waistline before they can do their duty). 

My dressing room is fast becoming a tomb for many a beautiful item that has not yet been worn.  Daily I am reminded of how many beautiful items I have but have yet to wear.  It is true that dieting is so much harder as you get older but its also true that nothing will actually happen unless you actually put some effort in.  

Therein lies the problem.  

My new job is keeping me stupidly busy which has a flip side of me wanting to do a big fat nothing the minute I get home.  All sport is ruled out (and the nights are getting darker anyway  - see how good I am at justifying my inactivity?) and unless I do something soon to increase my heart rate and build up anything that resembles a sweat, all those clothes will be forever enshrined to a lonely grave. It would also help if I just didn't adore food so much.  My downfall, my Achilles heel, my love.  Even now as I write, I am dreaming of the loaded pizza that I know is on the menu for tea tonight.  

Its ironic really. I finally have the dressing room I dreamed of (which I have still not posted about but carpets and finishing touches are all happening this month so not long till I can show you all the finished article), and yet I would say 80% of the lovely clothes that it houses, are no longer options to wear thanks to my overactive appetite (and my love of wine). I heard on the radio the other day that a bottle of white wine has the calorific equivalent of 6 doughnuts.  I would never eat 6 doughnuts in a row and yet a bottle of wine?? Not a problem.  

Action must be taken soon though.  I have a couple of Christmas parties coming up, none of which I want to be rolled into. Dress up opportunities are few and far between these days so I want to make the most of it around the festive period. The good thing is that I don't have to buy a new dress, I just need to slim down and pick one I already have, so it would also be a win-win for the bank account.  

So watch this space to see if I actually manage to shed  a few pounds before Santa comes a knocking. It is now priority number one on my agenda. 

Right after that pizza. 

A.W.O.L

I'm not even sure how to start this post. It has been such a long time since I logged into my blog with any writers intent, that I have ran out of excuses as to my lack of commitment.

Nearly two and a half months have passed since my last update on this funny thing I call life. Two and a half months of new-job stress, including lack of sleep, working at home, lunch and even in the car (while John drives, not myself,  I hasten to add). The ironic thing is that my new job means that I am now in the centre of Bristol only a stones throw away from many a charity shop but lunches have been spent attached to my "I wish it was done" list or in front of the work computer. I have become one of those people consumed by the retail rat-race, repeatedly saying to myself "just get through Christmas, just get through Christmas".

Managing three stores is as hard as I thought it would be but only in that I know myself so well. I cannot do a half-assed job, so in trying to do everything 100% of the time, I am slowly working myself into a lonely grave with a headstone that will read - I told you so. In addition to work, we have been crippled by an intermittent internet connection, something that really raises my anxiety levels (and John's when I repeatedly look to him as man of the house, to sort it out). This does not bode well for any blogger so that too has been hampering my return.

In other more exciting news, my DIY king of a husband has nearly completed our en suite and our bedroom which means I have also been assisting with sanding and painting (I am in charge of painting all the tricky straight lines) so I have spent a lot of time in close proximity to skirting boards and door frames. Once that room is done, we are going to give ourselves some time off for good behaviour and give the house a break for a while. At least over the festive period. Next year will be all about phase two: ripping out the kitchen and redesigning the garden. It's amazing to think that Christmas is far too close corner. It doesn't seem that long ago that John and I were goofing around in our huge paddling pool in the garden.  As I look out on the garden today, it's a slightly different  landscape. Despite the beautiful verdant greens all around, there is also rain all around. Just as I've hung up the washing of course. The blue sky has been replaced with a blanket of grey and even my beloved birds seem in a somber mood. The bird table today has been home to many a fracas, with nourishment at the heart of every encounter.

So what can I do to brightn up the proceedings? Well I can pull myself up, dust myself off and start all over again (in blogging terms anyway).  Let this post be the re-start of Ad-Vintage...

Now of course, along with all work and no play, there has been a distinct lack of foraging going on. To be truthful, I haven't even been interested really. My only release being a quick trip to Westbury-on-Trym recently on the way to collect John from work. It's a quaint little village in Bristol that is full of lovely second hand shops, all offering very nice items from the relatively affluent population that live there.  So here's a couple of things that I found...

Another beaded top but I can't resist them. For me, anything beaded harks back to a bygone era (although not sure the style would be appropriate on Downton Abbey). It was under a fiver and for all that intricate work, well worth it. Not yet worn but I am hoping I will get chance to show it off at Christmas. 

This necklace is so beautiful. It looks like something my Nan would have had on her dressing table and this is definitely worthy of Downton. It was £3.50 although I probably would have paid £10 for it

And finally, a firm favourite of mine, a horseshoe.  Still no sign of my treasured horseshoe necklace, it has fallen into the void that we are now calling "not seen since we moved house". Also in that void are my Dior brooch, wedding shoes and green ring John bought me for my 40th last year.  I try not to think about them or I get upset. 

So there it is, not a massive shopping spree but a successful one nonetheless.  I am now off to attempt  to pick something to wear for a night out tonight with friends at the local indian restaurant. I have also neglected them (along with many others) since taking the new job so I am really looking forward to a catch up and a curry. 

Au revoir et  à bientôt mes amis.   

Just popping to the village...

That is what I tell myself regularly. I need stamps OR something for tonight's dinner OR a card, knowing damn well the lure of the two local charity shops will pull me in while there and today as no exception.

Today I came home with two new pairs of shoes and a velvet jacket that I will write about another time. The shoes are not particularly sexy or edgy, no skyscraper heels, just comfy useful everyday shoes. Both were £2.50 and found in St Davids Hospice shop in Caldicot village. The green pair originated from my own shop Wallis but the second pair in black are from none other than Hobbs whose court shoes and pumps can easily be seen at prices around £130-£150. They look brand new with no visible marks whatsoever so they are a particularly good find. Neither pair are very high (for me, although I say that and everyone else still thinks they are too high), so they will serve as good work shoes. 

The odd thing was that I strolled into the village in a pair of turquoise shoes that were pretty much the same style. They too are a charity shop find from a few years back as I bought them to match a dress for my graduation (or at least the festivities afterwards).

So now I have three pairs of similar guise. Thankfully, now I have my dressing room, they can be displayed and not hidden. We have built in space for a few new purchases at least. 

I haven't written about my dressing room as it is not quite finished but rest assured when it is, there will be a post covering the official opening ceremony. 

A helping hand.....

Another item crossed off the bucket list. 

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to go and help my friend set up a sale in the St Peter's Hospice shop where she works in Bristol.  She is Deputy Manager of their Bishopston store on Gloucester Road and it was her job to set up a big summer sale last week so she roped in a few extra pairs of hands to help. Luckily, I wasn't working which is rare for a Saturday so I jumped at the chance of lending a hand for a couple of hours (despite it being John's birthday that day).  What can I say, I am a bad wife but a good friend.

Those of you that are regulars to my blog will know that I write about St Peters a lot, trying to promote them and their stores whenever I can. They do an amazing job in their Hospice in Brentry in Bristol for people that are terminally ill and they rely heavily on their chain of 42 shops in and around Bristol to raise much needed funds.

They are not like other charity shops, they really have paid attention to what is going on in the retail sector and mirror many boutique style shops with lovely shop fittings and interior design. They are always bright and welcoming and the clothes are all colour-blocked so it is a very inviting place to shop.  Their shops have "shunned" the old cliché of charity shops being smelly, dark, jumble sale style places, harnessing the love for all things vintage and second-hand, promoting a new way of shopping.....and thinking.

For anyone that knows the Gloucester Road area of Bristol, you will know it is a vibrant community full of local independent shops alongside a large array of charity shops.  It has a slightly bohemian feel to it which I love, a far cry from the giant retail behemoths in the city centre. It's an area where charity shops do very well but there is also a lot of competition.  This particular St Peters Shop is right next door to the Clic Sargent Vintage Flagship store (that I wrote about recently) but they also have another St Peters Store further up the road which is much larger and sells furniture.  Nic likened them to "Harrods" whereas her store is more "M&S" in scale.  It did make me laugh, I would prefer M&S any day.

This is Nicola and her sales assistant Rhiannon that were working that day.  In order to get the sale in full swing, Nic bought balloons, sweets, we put up bunting, just as you would in any other store hoping to make the most of a promotion.  It was interesting spending time there as I learnt that they too have sales targets, as per most shops and the pressure is no less apparent just because they are a charity.  In some ways, the pressure is more because they know how desperately important every single penny is.  The target for that day was £1000 which put things in perspective when we sometimes don't even take that in one of our Wallis stores! It's even more of a challenge when the items that you sell are traditionally at the lower end of the price bracket meaning you need to sell more of them to hit your plan. The charity needs an average of £16,000 per day to keep the hospice running and that comes largely from their stores, fund raising events such as the Midnight Walk and from donations left to them by individuals in their wills.

It is such an amazing and worthwhile cause, I admire anyone that works or volunteers for charity. A few years ago, after taking voluntary redundancy, I was lucky enough to take a 3 month break from paid work and I did lots of volunteering.  Some for animal charities which are a real passion of mine but also charities that support the elderly who I think get so easily overlooked. It was really rewarding and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to do it.

I work pretty much every Saturday so its not an option for me to volunteer on a fixed basis so it was nice to be able to help for a couple of hours if nothing else. While I was there, a stag party came in looking for waist-coats (which we didn't have unfortunately, despite rummaging through many a bag in the store room) and it made me realise that a lot of trade probably comes in that guise.  My stepdaughter was recently looking for a fancy dress item and her first port of call was a local charity shop so they really do serve the communities in many ways for many different reasons.

Surprisingly for me, I only managed to buy one item, which I felt guilty about as I was hoping to find loads and bump up the sales for that day. I tried several things on (including a few pairs of shoes) but it was not meant to be. My only purchase being this little seahorse bracelet that I gave to my mum which was £2.50 and well worth the smile on her face.

So please give a thought to these shops that do such amazing work for the charities they front and to the dedication of those that work there.  From all of the second-hand and vintage junkies out there, 

We salute you!

Scrapbook...

Life seems to be somewhat of a blur at the moment.

June, July and August are pretty hectic months in the Merchant-Locke household.  A melange of birthdays, family and summer events, school holidays....the list goes on. Time has not stood still for a while, not for us anyway. Added to that, the totally unexpected but very welcome summer that we are having, we seem to be dedicating more of our time to "fun" tasks as opposed to all those sat on our "necessary" list. A guaranteed summer is not one we are used to in this country so this year we have all been taken by surprise.  The ice-cream van man is very happy, blow-up garden pools are out of stock and pic-nics are springing up everywhere. It really is lovely weather and long may it continue.

I thought I would share with you some of the things that we have been up to over the summer, not just to off-set the guilt of not writing much but also because we have been lucky enough to make some lovely memories. I love scrap-booking and although I don't have the time that I would wish to dedicate to it, I am always aware of precious memories, trinkets, moments that I could squirrel away, even if just in my virtual scrapbook.

The St Peters Hospice Midnight Walk.  This is myself Tracy Bisp and Selina Bracey in all our finery about to take part in the annual sponsored walk which raises valuable funds for the hospice. Our dear friend, Wendy passed away recently and was cared for by the hospice in her last weeks.  It is such an amazing cause but also a brilliant night of fun (and aching legs).  I was lucky enough to have Selina's company all the way and we spent the whole night talking, laughing and sharing.  A few tears were even shed but it is a memory that I will always cherish.  Brilliant night with brilliant people for a brilliant lady.  

Sleep tight Wendy.

This is me and my amazing mum at the Westonbirt Arboretum. We spent a gorgeous summer's evening with a pic-nic watching Boyzone with my brother and sister-in-law.  At the time, mum had not long had a major operation on her foot and unfortunately was in a wheelchair. Not that that stopped her!  

The boys looking very dapper.

This is Oswald/Thor (the name hasn't yet been confirmed). At the moment he is a new house resident (much to my dog's disgust) while my step-daughter is away on holiday.  

 

Currently deflated and hanging on the washing line, this is our pool. We succumbed to summer madness and we too bought a blow up pool.  £60 well spent.  We have only been in it a few times as the cleaning process is hard work but we are now more prepared and have spent a fortune on all the correct cleaning products.  Hopefully this will avoid any more fluorescent algae from also joining us.  One small problem, we can't seem to disassociate being in the pool from drinking.  Drinking bubbly. It has become a costly and time consuming hobby.   

This is how the Merchant-Lockes do a small summer lunch.

This little fella is the newest baby in the family. My stepson and girlfriend are the proud owners of this beautiful little Pug (his name escapes me but it is something uber-cool from Lord of the Rings). He is adorable and was centre of attention at Tom's 21st BBQ last weekend.  

I love this photo.

John and I at Tom's birthday BBQ.  That red dress is quickly becoming one of my favourite ever charity shop purchases. And John is looking very handsome in his new birthday t-shirt from Tom.  Bought at one of the Formula One races that he attended recently with work. What a job!

This is John with little Miss Annabel Quarterman. Christening number 2 is this Sunday and yes, the fascinator will be out, no doubt annoying more people behind me.

He is so wonderful with kids, I fall a little bit more in love with him every time I see him with a baby (if that's possible).

The lovely Miss Harriet Davolls - proud new mum.

This is me, attempting to channel my inner Kate Middleton with a "fascinating" (as one of the guests put it).  We recently attended the christening of a friends little boy (seen below) and I have been dying for an excuse to buy one. I probably annoyed everyone in the church that sat behind me but hey. You must dress accordingly for a date with the Lord!

De-robed after the ceremony being happily passed from one guest to the next.  A very cute little Hugo.

So there you have it. A snapshot in the life of me and la famille. Some lovely memories "banked" in my scrapbook of life. Some events that we don't have photo's of unfortunately include a lovely evening with our friends Steve and Ellen who live not far from us. We were invited to a dinner party to meet some visiting French friends of theirs and we had a truly lovely evening (culminating a water pistol fight on the streets at midnight). Another event was last night, the leaving do of my Boss where I got to meet all the new girls that will soon be my new Wallis family as I take on the challenge of a new role in a couple of weeks.

 It's been a lovely couple of months and we still have more events to look forward to.  I hope you are having a very happy summer, whatever you are doing.

Love, Love, Love...

Last Sunday was our second wedding anniversary.  Two years of fun, laughter, smiles and lots of love.  I am a very lucky woman to have someone like John in my life.

We decided not to go mad and do anything extravagant, the holiday had recently wiped us out and we have a busy few months ahead of us with endless birthdays, christenings and other events (social butterflies that we are.......not). So, we had a very lazy day at home, took the wolf for a long walk in the morning but we went out for a lovely meal in the evening.  Now I'm no good at maths but this was a simple equation for me: evening out + special occasion = excuse to dress up.

I am not a lover of these photo's (not that I am ever a lover of my photo's) but unfortunately David Bailey was unavailable (and so was Kate Middleton's make-up artist).  So, the dress.................

Again, from my most fruitful and recent charity shop run on Gloucester Road in Bristol. It was £5 from the Shelter shop which is a charity that targets homelessness in the UK, something that is prevalent on the streets of Bristol unfortunately. I had already spent around £20 in the shop on other bits and pieces and happened upon the dress on their bargain rail as I was about to leave.  So back to the changing room I went and luckily it fit. I did question whether I needed yet another evening dress, I probably have more of that type of clothing than anything else BUT for £5? Pourquoi pas. 

The fabric is silky jersey with gentle gathering around the waist and a cowl style drop around the bust. No marks or signs of wear and tear so a bargain at that price.

The shoes (matching of course) were ironically a pair that John bought me for Christmas a few years ago so it was only right that they were brushed off for this occasion.

So, the evening was spent at the beautiful Marriott St Pierre Hotel and Country Club which is 5 minutes down the road from our house.  Despite the grandeur of the hotel, as usual I was overdressed, especially in light of the fact is was the evening of the world cup final and the bar was filled with men in shorts that looked like they had just fallen off the golf course and into the 19th hole.  Story of my life.  Even one of the chaps at work recently commented that the art of dressing up seems to have died a sad death. 

Poor John does not relish the whole dressing-up mentality that I was born with.  He frowned at the thought of a shirt and decent shoes for the event but dutifully changed nevertheless. 

Lovely evening, lovely food, lovely company and the sun kept on shining.

 For Germany also it seems.....

Motivation....

Okay, I am not ashamed to say it.  I have joined Slimming World.

John and I decided it was time to take action (especially after all the food and drink we consumed while on holiday).  We both started last Monday, and we must go every Monday night for the ceremonial weigh-in and the slightly Americanised chats that follow about how well/bad we have all done and how we can improve. Cringe.

I know how exactly I can improve. Give up wine (as if). Nevertheless, I am going to try and follow the rules, (a little harder next week I think), and we shall see what fruits it shall bear......

I was thinking to myself, one must have a point of motivation, something to steer me out of the dieting gloom and into the future skinny light, so I have appointed this dress as my beacon of hope.  It is another purchase from my charity shop run last week and one that currently doesn't fit (of course).  I saw it, tried it on and left it behind as the "frown of  disbelief", took over when I left the changing room, unable to do up another zip. Yet another item that probably would have easily fit pre-wedding but now doesn't thanks to all my happy-fat. But I kept thinking about how lovely it was and I returned, frown gone, to stake my claim.

It was a little difficult to take some photos that show it for as beautiful as it is, hopefully when I can finally wear it, I shall do it justice.  There are a couple of marks on the front near the base of the hem, but I'm hoping that as it swishes about, people (myself included), won't notice it. It was £12 and I probably could have got a discount for the marks but I never usually ask if its a charity shop item.  High Street mega-giants are a different kettle of fish. After all, they can afford it and you can expect 

good quality new products. Second-hand, you expect a little wear and tear sometimes. 

I don't have an event in mind, although it would serve as a lovely Christmas Day dress. I am thinking hair up in a bun with a little flower on the side. Go for the whole Spanish look.

"The Shop on Gloucester Road" is Clic Sargent's flagship vintage charity shop in the Bishopston area of Bristol and it's a second-hand lovers dream quite frankly.  The last time I visited, I bought a gorgeous plum dress (I call it my Wilma Deering dress) for £20 that sits proudly in my fab finds tab on this blog. I took some photos to share with you in the hope that those locals among you may pay it a visit.  It really is worth it. They have everything from clothing to nic-nacs, pictures to bric-a-brac.

It is a little treasure trove of vintage goodies just waiting to be adopted. So pop along if you are able Truffle Hunters! You won't be disappointed. 

P.s. By the time I finished this post, I discovered I had lost two pounds at Slimming World this week. And that was without really trying so I shall double my efforts this week and soon the dress will be mine! 

Red or Dead

I had a great night out this weekend with some friends on the waterfront in Bristol. And it was an ideal time to wear my new red dress that was one of my finds from Thursdays charity shop run. Instantly when I saw it, I had Saturday night in mind for its premiere. It's a lovely soft polyester with a gorgeous sheen to it. It just makes me want to sign up to a flamenco class the minute I put it on! And the icing atop the cake? It was brand new still with tags, never worn and in mint condition.

It was £12 from the wonderful St Peters Hospice shop on Gloucester Road, where my friend Nicola (see photos below) works. She is lucky enough to have one of my dream jobs.....Deputy Manager in a charity shop. I would love that job and would happily take a pay cut if the opportunity ever arose. John on the other hand, would not be so elated. I don't really need any excuses to grow my wardrobe. 

I am always amazed at how different I feel when I wear red. More confident, happier (if that's possible), a little bit more risqué....

Different colours can dramatically change our moods, behaviour and feelings. Fear, peace, aggression, tranquility. It's a very powerful tool, one that marketing people are all too aware of. There is a whole science behind visual merchandising in shops for example, which colours to use and where. They can make the difference between an inviting store and one that you would happily bypass (Hollister, yes that was aimed at you).

I also find it interesting how we interpret colours differently across borders and cultures. White for example is seen for many people as a sign of peace, innocence and purity whereas it is actually a colour that represents mourning (as opposed to black) in many eastern countries.

There is also the study of chromotherapy, once used in Ancient China, which was the use of colours as healing treatments. This is still practiced today as an alternative or holistic option and some examples are listed below. 

• Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.


• Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.


• Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.


• Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.


• Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.

(You can find more information on the web, these snippets of knowledge came courtesy of About.com)

I am not sure if I can say that my new red dress stimulated my mind and body (although my friends may say otherwise, they had to put up with that body jumping around on the dance floor all night), but it helped to make a great night, even better. For me at least. 

A little black dress just doesn't cut the mustard.

Hear are a few pics from the evenings frivolities........A great night with great girls (and one slightly older woman).

Miss Nicola....

Kelly, Hayley and Nic

Mrs Kelly S. And the whole crew. Condiments and all.